Heart & Vascular

Signs of a Stroke

When a stroke occurs, time is of the essence. For this reason, everyone
should learn how to recognize the signs of stroke. One of the most effective
ways to do this is by memorizing the acronym F.A.S.T.

F = FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A = ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does speech sound slurred
or strange?
T = TIME: If you observe any of these signs (independently or together), call 911
immediately.

Patients who have suffered a stroke sometimes report other symptoms, including: